Barb means for a hose connector

ABSTRACT

A hose connector having a tubular body has improved barb means thereon for retaining a hose on the body of the connector. The barb means comprises a plurality of small barbs arranged in dual tapering sets. The first set of barbs increases in size from an end of the tubular body to an intermediate portion thereof at one mean slope, and the second set of barbs increases in size, moving from the intermediate portion toward the opposite end of the body, at a larger mean slope. The barbs provide a very tight interference fit with the hose, but yet permit the hose to be manually installed on the body of the connector.

United States Patent Dudek Sept. 23, 1975 [5 1 BARB MEANS FOR A HOSECONNECTOR 3,526,416 9/1970 Kish 285/253 x 3. 9, 7 l 2 25 [75] Inventor:Edmund C. Dudek, St. Charles, 111. 3 2 2 N 222 i [73] Assignee: ThOlPOWCI T001 Company, Aurora, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS m- 970.5836/1950 France 285/239 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 1,167,133 4/1964Germany" 285/149 [2]] Appl' 391365 Primary E.ramin rThomas F. CallaghanAttorney, Agent, or Finm-Hibben, Noyes & Bicknell [52] U.S. Cl. 285/242;285/174; 285/259 [51] Int. Cl F16L 33/22 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field ofSearch 285/259, 253, 252, 239, A hose connector having a tubular bodyhas improved 285/242, 256, 255, 254, 251, 257, 258, 238, barb meansthereon for retaining a hose on the body of the connector. The barbmeans comprises a plural- 174 ity of small barbs arranged in dualtapering sets. The first set of barbs increases in size from an end ofthe [56] References cued tubular body to an intermediate portion thereofat one UNITED STATES PATENTS mean slope, and the second set of barbsincreases in 683,482 10/1901 Neumeyer 285/254 size, moving from theintermediate portion toward the 1,980,466 11/1934 285/259 X opposite endof the body, at a larger mean slope. The 2,446,59 8/1 48 28 X barbsprovide a very tight interference fit with the ii hose, but yet permitthe hose to be manually installed 5: 12/1964 285/259 X on the body ofthe connector. 3,174,777 3/1965 Lodholm ct a1. 285/259 X 3 Claims, 6Drawing Figures I 3 31M m 35m I 24 Z; 31- 32 33 34 35 3g 31 r38 3m 5 235M 35m US Patant Sept. 23,1975 3,907,342

g D: PRIOR 15 1 LL] 4 L Lu W 2 I "1 5 .80 5 '41, i Q Q M! AXIAL LENGTHAXIAL LENGTH 33M 35M 37 42 i DIAMETER- INCH 40 33m .70 31m 32m 34 AXIALLENGTH BARB MEANS FOR A HOSE CONNECTOR This invention relates to a hoseconnector and more particularly to improved barb means for retaining ahose on the body of the connector.

Flexible, rubbler-like hose has found wide application and acceptance inindustry. Such hose usually has some form of connector at its ends.Typically, the connector has a tubular body with a coupling portion atone end and a shank or stem portion at the other end, the hose beingengaged on the stem portion. The coupling portion may be of the typeshown in the J. T. Nelson, US. Pat. No. 1,303,367, issued May 13, 1919,or of any other well-known type.

The connector stem of the priorart usually had a plurality of annularribs or barbs, which may be similar to those shown in the Nelson patent,to increase the grip of the hose on the stem. These barbs were not thesame size, but visibly increased in size. Another type of barb means ofthe prior art used on such a connector stem comprised a plurality ofuniform size barbs which were generally larger in diameter than theinner diameter of the hose.

While the Nelson type barb means permitted the hose to be manuallyinstalled on the stem, such barbs had the disadvantage of providing atight interference fit only at the extreme end of the hose, suchconnection being prone to leak. The uniform size barb means whileproviding a tight fit along the length of the connector stem, had thedisadvantage of difficulty in manually assembling the hose on the stem,it being difficult to slide the hose over the barbs.

The disadvantages of hose connectors with prior art barb means have beenovercome by a hose connector having the novel and improved barb meansofthe present invention. The connector comprises a tubular body havingat one end a stern portion provided with the novel arrangement of barbsover which the hose is fitted. The opposite end of the tubular body, ina typical embodiment, may be constructed as a coupling for connection ofanother fluid conduit. However, the connector of the present inventionmay be used wherever it is desired to attach a hose to a fitting orother equipment, e.g., a pump, compressor, or the like.

In the present invention the barbs are arranged on the stem of theconnector in dual sets. The first set of barbs tapers or increases insize from a barb at one end of the stem generally slightly larger thanthe nominal inside diameter of the hose to a barb of substantiallygreater size at an intermediate portion of the stem. The second set ofbarbs tapers or increases in size from a barb at the intermediateportion of a size smaller than the last barb of the first set to a barbof the greater size at the opposite end of the stem. The barb means ofthe present invention permits manual installation of the hose on thestern since the first or initial barb of the first set is small in sizecompared to the opening in the hose. Further, since the hose may beslipped onto the initial portion of the stem with a degree of speed, themomentum and inertia generated during the initial part of theinstallation help to slide the hose over the larger barbs of the firstand second sets which provide verytight interference fits to preventleakage.

The primary object of the barb means of the present invention is toprovide novel and improved retaining of a hose to a connector.

Another object of the barb means of the present invention is tofacilitate manual assembly of the hose onto the connector, but yetprovide a good interference fit for the hose.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying figures of the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a hose coupling having at one end acoupling portion and at the other end a stem with barb means of thepresent invention, a hose shown in cross section being mounted on thestem;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating one barb means of the priorart;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating a second barb means of theprior art; i

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating the barb means of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the stem of FIG.1.

The barb means of the present invention is illustrated in conjunctionwith a hose coupling 10, but it should be understood that the barb meansof the present invention could be used with other types of connectors,such as fittings or devices for use with hose. The hose coupling 10comprises a tubular body having a stern portion 12 and a couplingportion 14. In this instance, the coupling portion 14 is similar to thatshown in the previously mentioned Nelson patent and is suitable toconnect to a second, similar coupling 10'. Prime reference numerals areused to indicate similar parts for the coupling 10.

As is shown in FIG. I, a flexible hose 16, comprising an outer rubbersection 18, an intermediate braided cord section 20 and an inner rubbersection 22, is in stalled on the stem portion 12 of the coupling 10. Thehose 16 is preferably held in assembled relation on the stem portion 12by means of a clamp 24. As can be seen in FIG. I the stem portion 12 isreceived in a center opening 25 in the hose 16. The body of thecoupling, including the stem 12 and coupling portion 14 has a centeropening 26, shown in FIG. 2, through which the fluid conveyed by thehose 16 flows.

A series of plurality of annular ribs or barbs, and in this instanceseven barbs, 3l37 are arranged between the opposite ends of the stem ofcoupling 10, according to present invention, to form an outline in theshape of a stack of truncated cones. The stack of barbs 3l-37 extendsfrom the outer end of the stem, or the end that initially engages thehose 16, and terminates adjacent a tapered annular shoulder 38 which isadjacent to the inner end of the stem and the coupling portion 14. Foreach barb on the stem 12 of coupling 10, the smaller ends of thetruncated cones face toward the left, or outer end of the stem, whilethe larger ends face toward the right, or inner end of the stem that isadjacent to the coupling portion 14. The barbs 3137 are arranged in twotapering sets. The barbs 31-34, comprising the first set, increase insize or external radial dimensions as they run from one end of the stemto an intermediate portion thereof. The barbs 35-37, comprising thesecond set, increase in size or external radial dimensions as they runfrom the intermediate portion toward the other end of the stem. Thebarbs 31-37 first increase, then decrease at an intermediate portion ofthe stem l2, and again "increase as one moves on the stem toward thecoupling portion 14. The first barb of the second set, bar 35, is anintermediate barb and is smaller than its adjacent barbs 34 and 36.

All the barbs 31-37 are generally equal in depth, but as illustrated inFIG. 6, each barb has a different internal or minor diameter forexample, for barb-32 the minor diameter is designated 32m to 32m in FIG.6) and a different external or major diameter (for example, for barb 32the major diameter is designated 32M to 32M in FIG. 6). A Coupler stem,suitable for'use with a three-fourths inch nominal inside diameter hose,has barb means with the major diameters and minor diameters shown inFIG. 5 and tabulated below:

TABLE I HOSE END COUPLING END Barb v Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th7th (Barb No. in Fig.1) (31) (32) (33) (34) (35) (3o) (37) MajorDiameter .781 .788 .795 .802 .790 .812 .833

(inches) Minor Dia- 1 meter .726 .733 .741) .747 .735 .75) .778

inches I A similar coupling stem for a three-eithths inch nominal insidediameter hose, .has barb means wherein the first set includes the firstfive barbs and-the second set includes the last twobarbs; the sixthbarb, .the first barb of the second set, is smaller than its adjacentbarbs. The

major and minor diameters for such stem are tabulated In one type barbmeans of the prior art illustrated by the Nelson patent, the barbscontinuously increased in size at a very rapid mean slope as isschematically depicted in FIG. 3 by the slope of the dashed line 39. Infact, the increase of size of the Nelson barbs is readily visible to thenaked eye, whereas the barbs of the present invention increase at aslowerrate, one which is barely perceptible tothe eye. i

In a second type barb means ofthe'prior art, suitable for use with athree-fourths inch nominal inside diame ter hose, all barbs had 0.844inches major diameters and 0.789 inches minor diameters, as isschematically depicted in FIG. 4. I

The data for prior art barbs and the barbs of the present invention havebeen schematically displayed in FIGS. 3 and'4 and FIG. 5 respectivelyusing an abscissa generally corresponding to the actual axial spacing ofthe barbs and an expanded, non-zero ordinate to illustrate thedifferences between the prior art and the present invention.

In the present invention, the first set of barbs 31 to 34 increases insize atone waveform mean slope, as is depicted by the slope(approximately 0.028 inches- /inch) of the dashed line 40 (FIG. 5), andthe second set of barbs 35-37 increases in size at a second, in creaseduniform mean slope. as is depicted by the slope (approximately 0.086inches/inch) of the dashed line 42.(FIG. 5).

The initial barb 31 first contacted during installation of the hose 16is smaller than the initial barb of FIG. 4 (0.781 inches as compared to0.844 inches). Such construction makes installation of the three-fourthsinch nominal inside diameter hose on the stem 12 much casier. In fact,the hose 16 may be hand assembled on the stem '12 with relative ease,whereas before, with the barbs of the type shown in FIG. 4, this wasdifficult or impossible. Unlike the Nelson type barbs, the stem 12 hasitsbarbs sized so that all barbs including barbs 31 and 35 provide aninterference fit. Of course, the barb '37 and shoulder 38 provide thetightest interference fit.

The hose 16 is installed on the stern of the coupling 10 in thefollowing manner. The hose 16 is taken in one hand, and the coupling 10is taken in the other, the end of the stem I2 being aligned with theopening 25 in the hose. The hose l6 and coupling 10 are rapidly forcedtogether with a degree of speed so that the momentum and inertiagenerated permits the hose to be slipped over the larger barbs 33 and 34of the first set and barbs 36 and 37 of the second set and the shoulder38. After the hose is in place, an interference fit is provided allalong the hose from the initial barb 31 of the first set, to the lastbarb 37 of the second set. The interference fit, of course, is greaterat the larger barbs. The hose is then further secured in place by meansofa clamp, such as the wire clamp 24. The clamp 24 is generally placedon the hose over the intermediate portion of the stem and the barb35.'The clamp 24 forces the hose 16 into the depressed. intermediatearea of the stem to still fur t'her secure the hose 16 to the stem 12 ofthe coupling 10. I ,5 'I claim:

1. In a hose connector having an elongated tubular body, one end thereofforming a stem portion adapted to receive a hose and the other endthereof having a coupling portion adapted to be connected to a fluidconduit, the improvement comprising a plurality of annular barb means onsaid ,tubular body, said barb means first increasing, then decreasingand then increasing in external radial dimensions from the stem portiontoward the coupling portion, the rates of increase in external radialdimensions of said barb means being different, said barb means includingfirst and second sets of at least two barbs each, the last barb of thesecond set being of the largest external radial dimension and the firstbarb of the first set being of the smallest external radial dimension.

2. In a hose connector as in claim 1, wherein said barb means includesseven barbs, the first four barbs of the first set and the last threebarbs of the second set increase in external radial dimension from saidstem portion toward said coupling portion, the fifth barb being ofsmallenexternal radial dimension than either adjacent barb.

3'. In a hose connector as in claim 1, wherein said barb means includesseven barbs, the first five barbs of the first set and the last twobarbs of the second set increase in externalradial dimension from saidstern portion toward said coupling portion, the sixth barb being ofsmaller external radial dimension than either adjacent barb.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. I 3,907,342

DATED September 23, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Edmund C. Dudek It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 54, "greater" should read greatest-. Col. 3, line 67,waveform" should read uniform-.

Signed and Sealed thisthirtieth D f March 1976 [SEAL] Allest.

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ommissr'mwr nj'Parenlsand Trademarks

1. In a hose connector having an elongated tubular body, one end thereofforming a stem portion adapted to receive a hose and the other endthereof having a coupling portion adapted to be connected to a fluidconduit, the improvement comprising a plurality of annular barb means onsaid tubular body, said barb means first increasing, then decreasing andthen increasing in external radial dimensions from the stem portiontoward the coupling portion, the rates of increase in external radialdimensions of said barb means being different, said barb means includingfirst and second sets of at least two barbs each, the last barb of thesecond set being of the largest external radial dimension and the firstbarb of the first set being of the smallest external radial dimension.2. In a hose connector as in claim 1, wherein said barb means includesseven barbs, the first four barbs of the first set and the last threebarbs of the second set increase in external radial dimension from saidstem portion toward said coupling portion, the fifth barb being ofsmaller external radial dimension than either adjacent barb.
 3. In ahose connector as in claim 1, wherein said barb means includes sevenbarbs, the first five barbs of the first set and the last two barbs ofthe second set increase in external radial dimension from said stemportion toward said coupling portion, the sixth barb being of smallerexternal radial dimension than either adjacent barb.